Tail-skid shoe for airplanes



April 10, 1928. 1,665,849

J. F. HABERLIN TAILSKID snoiz FOR AIRPLANEs Filed Aug. 5. 192.?

INVENTOR & 9

ATTORN EY PHCYOMYHO' SACKETT 5 WILHELMS CORP N V,

Patented Apr. 1Q, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F..HABERLIN, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, 'ASSIGNOR T0 BOEING AIRPLANE COMPANY, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

TAIL-SKID SHOE FOR AIRPLANES.

Application filed August}, 1927. Serial No. 210,393.

This invention relates to improvements in tail-skids for airplanes, and more especially to skid shoes, and has for its principal objeet to provide a device of this character which can be quickly and conveniently converted from a field landing shoe to a deck landing shoe. Heretofore it has been necessary -to provide two shoes, one for field landing, and the other for deck landing on ships at sea, landing platforms and other landing places of limited area, .where the useof mechanicalarresting gear, and the like are required.

The field landing shoe, now common in the art is formed with a rigid fin or keel member, adapted forcutting engagement with the field, for steering the plane. This shoe of course could not be used for deck landings, and the like above referred to without damaging the arresting apparatus and decking, and it is necessary therefore to change the, skid shoes from time to time to accommodate a predetermined landing.

With my improved form of shoe I overcome the necessit of two shoes, by providing a simple, e cient, durable and inexpensive shoe, embodying all the features of both shoes, wherein the several parts are readily accessible, quickly convertible and adjustable.

These and other objects will appear as my invention is more fully hereinafter describedin the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1, is a fragmentary side elevation of the rear portion of an airplane showing my improved form of skid shoe in operative engagement therewith.

Figure 2, is a side elevation of the skid shoe.

Figure 3, is a plan View of Fig. 2.

Figure 4, is a sectional end elevation, taken on the line AA of-Fig. 2.

i with the keel in its Referring now more particularly to the drawings:

Reference numeral 1, indicates a-usual tail skid of curved formation, depending from the bottom side of the main body of an 5" airplane, near the rear end thereof. 2 indicates generally, the main body of n1y,.i1nproved skid shoe, which is formed with a pair of upstanding parallel walls 3, integral with a longitudinally curved friction plate ofshoe 4. Swingably and adjustably mounted between the walls 3, is a keel 5, pivotally mounted on a bolt 6, which passes through bosses 6 formed on' the walls 3. The keel. is apertured as at 7 to receive a locking bolt 8. 9 indicates another bolt for securing the shoe to the skid 1. The friction plate 4-; is provided with an elongated aperture 10 (0,, permit the keel 5 to dropped to its lowermost position and locked in place by the bolt 8, The shoe with the keel in this position is ready for use in field landing, and uppermost position as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, is ready for use in deck landing.

While I have shown a particular form of embodiment of my invention, I am aware, that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

c Having this described my invention. what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is An article of the class described compris ing a friction shoe, a keel member swingably mounted within said shoe and adapted to adjustable movement externally of the shoe and means for locking said keel in any of its adjusted positions.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN F. HABERLI N. 

